'Sir, is it because of foreign aid?' - Mahama's stance on LGBTQ questioned

Ellen Ama Daaku, spokesperson for former Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, is demanding answers from President John Dramani Mahama following his recent comments about LGBTQ+ issues.

Speaking at a Presidential Dialogue with Civil Society Organisations at Jubilee House on March 30, 2026, President Mahama described the topic as sensitive and emotionally charged, urging a calm and respectful national conversation on the issue.

“I explained during my recent engagement with the World Affairs Council that it is not the most important issue we face as a nation,” Mahama said.

“We are still grappling with the provision of basic needs of education, health care, jobs, food, clothing, and shelter,” he added.

“While there are strong and differing views within our society, we believe that issues must be addressed through democratic processes, our core values, dialogue, and the rule of law,” he stated.

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He emphasised that his government seeks to address core socio economic challenges to improve living conditions for citizens before tackling other issues.

In response to this assertion on GHOne TV on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, Daaku contended that this position contradicts what he [President Mahama] previously told Ghanaians before becoming president.

She recalled that Mahama had once suggested former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was reluctant to sign the Anti-LGBTQI bill because he was seeking foreign aid.

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On that score, she questioned Mahama’s position asking whether he, himself is making these statements because he is also seeking foreign aid.

“During an interview with a BBC journalist, he was evasive when it came to this LGBTQ matter. At home, I am against it…outside home, you cannot say much about it. You are not too critical about the matter because it is a matter of people's rights. And you know that as a statesman and as a president of a country… When the people haven't got it in your face, they haven't committed any crime. But here you are now actually trying to criminalise people's sexual behaviour. And that is what we kept on telling you in the past.

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“Let's be careful about this thing, let's go through a process, let's have a conversation. The NDC said no, President Mahama, you said no! Former President Akufo-Addo does not want to sign the Anti-LGBTQ bill because of foreign aid. He said it. So, sir, is it because of foreign aid that you said it is no longer a priority?” she quizzed.

Ellen Ama Daaku further challenged President Mahama to demonstrate leadership if he truly believes the LGBTQI debate is not a national priority.

“Let your people pass it, after all your majority in Parliament. So, if you decide that tomorrow, in the next one week, you want to pass this one, go ahead….After all, haven't you just assent to a few bills two days ago? So, if you decide that this is a priority, you can get your people to push it, and then you sign it. And let's see how it will impact your bilateral relations,” she said.

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